Does cannabis cause psychological dependence?
Yes, with long-term use a psychological dependence can develop. Drugcom.de writes this in its encyclopaedia entry on cannabis. Drugcom describes that those affected feel they can no longer cope without cannabis. The BIÖG writes that psychological dependence in particular can become very strong, and that the urge to use cannabis then becomes overpowering. This article explains the term, shows how common dependence is according to the Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), and gives you a self-check and concrete steps should you recognise yourself or someone else.
What psychological dependence means
Sucht Schweiz (the Swiss addiction agency) describes psychological dependence mainly as a strong craving to use cannabis. Among the typical signs of addiction, the BIÖG names withdrawal from everyday life, listlessness, giving up interests and hobbies, and lying or making excuses to conceal use.
The BIÖG writes that anyone who takes a single joint does not become dependent straight away. According to drugcom, dependence is present when at least two features apply within 12 months, and what matters is whether the use has already had negative consequences. The self-check below helps you look honestly.
How common dependence is
The BIÖG gives a concrete order of magnitude: roughly one in eight people who use cannabis become dependent. The figure says nothing about who is affected. According to the BIÖG, the risk rises if a person uses cannabis once or several times a week.
Drugcom writes that neither the amount nor the frequency of use plays the decisive role in the question of dependence. The question “Do I still have this under control?” is a sensible starting point.
Why young people should take particular care
The BIÖG describes the young brain as being in an important stage of development. Use can affect this development. Drugcom also writes that there is convincing evidence that an early start to use results in lasting impairments of cognitive performance. Cognitive performance here means thinking, learning and remembering. More on this is in the article What are the consequences of starting to use early?.
The BIÖG also warns that in the worst case a school-leaving or vocational qualification is at risk, because memory works much less well. Anyone under 18 will find the legal rules under youth protection.
A self-check with five questions
The following questions offer a way to orient yourself. They are a self-reflection aid and cannot diagnose anything. If you answer several questions with yes, you should speak to a specialist service.
- Do you use more often or more than you intended?
- Have you tried to use less and not managed it?
- Do you often think about when you can next use?
- Do school, training, work or friendships suffer because of your use?
- Do you keep using even though the use itself is burdening you?
On drugcom.de there is also a Cannabis check for self-assessment. Among other things, it asks whether you had the impression of no longer having your use under control, and it does not replace a conversation.
What you can do if you recognise yourself
- Note your use for one week. Write down when, where, with whom and in what mood you use. This shows patterns that you would otherwise miss in everyday life.
- Speak to someone you trust. It does not have to be a parent. A friend, a sibling or a teacher can help too.
- Visit an addiction counselling service. You can find suitable services at suchtberatung.digital or near you. The article How do I find addiction counselling near me? helps with the search.
- Have physical or emotional complaints checked by a doctor. A doctor can assess what lies behind them.
Prevention in everyday life
It helps to know the situations in which you use, for example after work or before sleep. A cannabis-free week can show how easy or hard the break is for you. According to the BIÖG and drugcom, withdrawal symptoms such as sleep problems, strange dreams or nervousness are possible, and drugcom describes that they vary a great deal from person to person.
For anonymous advice, you can reach the Sucht & Drogen Hotline on 01806 313031 (calls are charged, daily 8 a.m. to midnight). Counselling services are listed in the Suchthilfeverzeichnis of the Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen.
Where to go from here
The first point of contact is an addiction counselling service. There, people talk with you about use, everyday life and goals. Information for getting started is also offered by drugcom.de. If you are worried about someone else, the article How can parents tell that their child is using cannabis? gives a first orientation.
Frequently asked questions
Does cannabis cause psychological dependence?
According to drugcom.de, long-term use can lead to a psychological dependence. The BIÖG states that roughly one in eight people who use cannabis become dependent. Whether it affects you is shown by an honest look at your habits: how often you use, whether you can interrupt your use and how much it shapes your everyday life. If in doubt, an addiction counselling service helps.
Where can I get help for cannabis dependence?
An addiction counselling service is the first point of contact. You can find services online at suchtberatung.digital and in the addiction support directory of the DHS, and anonymously you can reach the Sucht & Drogen Hotline on 01806 313031. A family doctor can also check whether use lies behind complaints and refer you to specialist services.
Is psychological dependence more dangerous for young people?
The BIÖG says that (almost) daily use is far more harmful for young people than for adults, and describes the young brain as being in an important stage of development. Drugcom writes that there is convincing evidence that an early start leads to lasting impairments of cognitive performance. Restraint in this phase of life is therefore the obvious conclusion.